Preparation of diester-based biolubricants from monoesters of fatty acids and olefin-derived vicinal diols
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsZhen Zhou, Stephen Joseph Miller, Saleh A. Elomari
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to methods of making diester-based (bio)lubricant compositions, wherein such diester-based lubricant compositions generally comprise diester species prepared by reacting vicinal diol species with monoester(s) of one or more fatty acids. In some embodiments, such methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize one or more biomass precursor species (e.g., monoesters of fatty acids derived from crop oils and/or other source of triglyceride species such as algae). In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins, typically alpha (α)-olefins.
Claims11
A method for making diester-based biolubricants comprising diester species, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) converting an olefin having a carbon number of from 6 to 30 to a vicinal diol, the vicinal diol having the same carbon number as the olefin from which it is derived and having a general formula:
- where R1 and R2 collectively contain from 4 to 28 carbon atoms, and wherein the diol is produced in a sub-process comprising the sub-steps of:
- i) formylating the internal olefin to form a hydroxyformate;
- and
- ii) hydrolyzing the hydroxyformate to yield a diol;
- and
- b) esterifying the vicinal diol with monoester species to form a diester species via transesterification, said monoester having a general formula:
- wherein R3,4 is a C2 to C17 hydrocarbon group, and wherein R5 is a C1 to C6 hydrocarbon group, and wherein the diester species has the following structure:
- wherein the diester species has a viscosity and pour point suitable for use as a lubricant or component thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.